How can you moisturize your baby’s skin? When should you start using lotion on a newborn?
If you’re thinking about these questions, it’s because you want to be a good parent. You want the best for your child.
Part of your job is to keep your little one’s skin healthy. The best baby lotion for newborns can help with that.
But which baby moisturizer is safe and suitable for your child?
How to choose the best baby lotion for a newborn
Pediatricians and dermatologists recommend products with fewer ingredients (1). They also say to avoid fragrances, dyes, parabens, alcohol, and formaldehyde. You don’t need any of those ingredients to make an excellent lotion for newborn skin.
It’s tempting to get a moisturizer that smells good or has a pretty color, but it may cause a rash.
Keep it simple and choose a product from a reputable manufacturer, especially one that’s suggested by pediatricians. You can always go with something fancier when your child is older, and their skin has become less susceptible.
Parents of babies with eczema need to take special care in choosing lotion. Fortunately, there are several baby lotions with the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association.
An ointment is better for very dry patches of skin, but it will be extra greasy and take longer to absorb. Apply it at bedtime so that it can work overnight.
When to moisturize a newborn’s skin
Put lotion on your baby immediately after his bath. Rubbing it in while the skin is still damp will seal in the moisture.
If his skin is visibly dry, apply it twice daily. At bedtime, it makes for a soothing massage.
Most baby formulas without petroleum and mineral oil won’t clog pores and can be used as often as necessary.
Best Baby Lotion for Newborns in 2024
Now, let’s review the best moisturizers for newborns.
CeraVe Baby Lotion
You’ll pay a little more for this premium baby lotion, but it’s well worth it. It was developed by dermatologists to be safe for a newborn’s skin. Plus, it’s been accepted by the National Eczema Association as suitable for infants and toddlers with skin conditions.
Not only is it fragrance-free, but it doesn’t contain parabens or phthalates, which could have negative long-term consequences on a child’s health.
It features 3 essential ceramides to restore and strengthen the skin’s natural barrier against infection and moisture loss. It also has niacinamide and dimethicone to soothe redness and irritation and lock in hydration. But it’s the hyaluronic acid that draws in water to heal dehydrated skin.
The texture is lightweight and soothing, never greasy. It sinks in quickly to immediately relieve itching and smooth chapped skin.
Mustela Hydra Bébé Body Lotion
Mustela’s baby lotion is made from 97% natural ingredients and perfect for newborns. Yes, it has a light fragrance. However, it’s been tested for sensitive skin. The formula is hypoallergenic and free of parabens, phenoxyethanol, and phthalates.
One of the key ingredients is avocado perseose, a patented molecule that nourishes and rehydrates the baby’s skin. There’s also shea butter, an excellent natural moisturizer.
Since the formula is biodegradable and water-based, it’s not oily and doesn’t feel tacky. Instead, it leaves the skin silky soft.
Earth Mama Sweet Orange Baby Lotion with Organic Calendula
If you prefer to avoid chemicals altogether, check out this organic baby lotion. It’s so safe that it’s rated a 1 on the EWG Skin Deep Database. It’s also certified organic according to NSF/ANSI standards.
There are absolutely no harsh ingredients: no petroleum, mineral oil, perfumes, or parabens.
When you read the label, it sounds almost good enough to eat. Instead of water, the base ingredient is organic aloe juice. Moreover, the delicious vanilla orange fragrance is all-natural from plant extracts.
The touch of calendula ensures that the baby’s skin stays comfortable and calm.
Aveeno Baby Calming Comfort Lotion
At bedtime, soothe your little one and yourself with this calming lotion. It smells like lavender and vanilla.
Like other products from Aveeno, it uses oats to alleviate itchy skin and restore healthy moisture levels. Plus, it’s designed by dermatologists to be pH-balanced and hypoallergenic. It has no parabens, phenoxyethanol, or phthalates.
Cetaphil Baby Daily Lotion
Cetaphil’s baby lotion keeps working for up to 24 hours. It doesn’t need parabens, dyes, or mineral oil to work its magic. It does have a mild fragrance, however.
It nourishes and heals with almond oil, vitamin E, and calendula. Not only was it tested by dermatologists and found to be effective, but the results were confirmed by Galderma.
Johnson’s Moisturizing Pink Baby Lotion
In recent years, Johnson’s has reformulated their baby lotions. Now, these iconic moisturizers contain 50% fewer ingredients, which makes them gentler for newborns.
The pink version has been proven to be free of known allergens. It features coconut oil to promote healthy moisture levels without clogging pores or leaving a residue. It’s been pediatrician-tested to provide up to 24 hours of hydration for dry skin.
Johnson’s CottonTouch Newborn Baby Face and Body Lotion
What’s special about having cotton in this moisturizer? It’s the fourth ingredient, which makes it a significant contribution to the formula. Johnson’s explains that the cotton microfibers form a breathable protective layer on the skin.
This may be a drugstore baby lotion, but it’s hypoallergenic and pH-balanced. It has an improved formula with fewer, more effective ingredients, and it’s free of phthalates, dyes, and parabens. That’s not surprising as this is a product often used in hospitals and recommended by doctors.
It’s mild enough to use on a newborn’s face. That’s good news as drool and spit up can irritate the skin. But a soothing moisturizer like this one protects against redness and chapping.
Baby Dove Face and Body Lotion Rich Moisture
Baby Dove’s newborn lotion provides 24 hour-moisture with a pre-biotic formula. It begins the healing process from the moment you apply it.
It has no parabens, dyes, phthalates, but it does have a subtle fragrance. If you prefer an unscented product, there’s also a Baby Dove Sensitive version. (We’d recommend it for babies with eczema).
It’s been tested by pediatricians and dermatologists, and it’s pH-balanced. Why does the pH matter? If it’s too acidic or too basic, it upsets the skin’s natural moisture level.
Baby Dove Face and Body Lotion for Sensitive Skin
Here is the sensitive skin version of the lotion above. It’s fragrance-free and made without parabens, phthalates, or artificial colors.
What’s interesting is that it’s formulated with nutrients that are found in healthy skin. Of course, but doesn’t include petrolatum that happens to be the third ingredient on the label.
While we aren’t fans of products with petrolatum, this one has been tested and approved by pediatricians and dermatologists.
It’s also kind to the environment as it’s packaged in 100% recycled plastic.
Puracy Baby Lotion
Because of this lotion, Puracy won an award for Best Baby Skincare from The Bump. Moreover, the customer comments are full of parents praising it. They are relieved to find a lotion with safe, natural ingredients like purified water, organic aloe and shea butter, and lavender essential oil.
The moisturizer is a pediatrician-approved product developed by a chemist from MIT. Without harsh ingredients like parabens and artificial fragrances, it’s harmless for newborns and suitable for infants with eczema and cradle cap.
The formula is plant-based and vegan. It’s non-toxic and has no gluten. Furthermore, the American-made lotion comes with 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Pipette Baby Lotion
This baby lotion is EWG-verified for safety. It’s hypoallergenic and free from potentially irritating and toxic ingredients. For example, it has no artificial fragrance. The lotion was developed in conjunction with pediatricians, dermatologists, and biologists.
It uses the goodness of nature to nurture an infant’s skin. There’s squalane derived from sugarcane that restores healthy moisture. Then, there are ceramides, pomegranate sterols, and fatty acids to form a protective barrier.
Live Clean Baby Gentle Moisture Lotion
This Canadian-made lotion was created with certified organic botanicals like aloe, chamomile, and lavender. It’s clinically proven to leave a baby’s skin smooth and satisfied.
The creamy texture comes from a formula that’s 97% plant-based and cruelty-free. It has no parabens, dyes, petrolatum, or phthalates. It’s as kind to the environment as it is to your infant’s body.
Babo Botanicals Moisturizing Baby Lotion
The luscious fragrance of this lotion comes from Tonka beans, bergamot, vanilla, and cedarwood. It smells so good you’ll want to use it for yourself, so get an extra bottle.
With a host of certified organic ingredients, it calms and protects sensitive skin. It uses shea butter and jojoba oil to rehydrate while calendula, chamomile, and watercress calm irritation.
It’s plant-based and medical-grade for treating eczema, too. There’s no gluten, soy, peanuts, dairy, almonds, or walnut derivatives in it.
California Baby Super Sensitive Cream
If you visit the California Baby headquarters in LA, you’ll find that it’s an FDA-registered facility. It’s certified organic and powered by the sun. Furthermore, the company is owned by women and operated by a family.
That’s a good background for baby lotion designed for sensitive skin. It’s free of allergens like gluten, dairy, and soy. Plus, it has no petroleum derivatives, parabens, or added fragrance.
The cream instantly calms irritated, dry skin with aloe, and calendula. It sinks in quickly and won’t clog pores or feel greasy.
Shea Moisture 100 Percent Virgin Coconut Oil Baby Lotion
Sure, you could use pure coconut oil on your baby’s skin as a moisturizer. Yet, the benefits will last longer in a formula like this one.
The lotion has shea butter, olive oil, and mango butter to extend the effects of the coconut oil. It’s packed with organic and Fair Trade ingredients proven to nourish the skin.
The only downside is the aroma. Some parents seem to love it, and others say that it’s too strong. But they love how just a little bit of the lotion goes a long way.
Original Sprout Scrumptious Baby Cream
Once you’ve tried it, you’ll be a fan of Original Sprout’s Baby Cream. It’s what you need to resolve diaper rash and soothe chapped skin. It contains zinc to speed up healing.
There’s a light fragrance from essential oils but no nasties like phthalates or parabens. Although it has a rich texture, it sinks in quickly and won’t make the skin feel oily.
SeboCalm Baby Face Cream
A baby’s face is prone to acne, dryness, redness, and irritation. The enzymes in saliva are part of the problem. But you can beat the odds with this soothing cream. It keeps the skin healthy and repairs redness and rashes.
Not only does it moisturize, but it also forms a protective barrier. It was developed by a team of pharmacists with experience treating sensitive skin.
Eucerin Baby Eczema Relief Body Cream
Eucerin’s eczema cream is excellent for infants with dry, reddened, itchy skin. It’s fortified with licorice root to calm redness, plus ceramides to rebuild the natural protection that healthy skin has.
There’s oatmeal to calm itchiness and bring back moisture, too. The effects last for 24 hours after application.
Although it’s mild enough for everyday use, it’s designed for babies at least 3 months of age.
Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream
Aveeno’s eczema cream is clinically proven to relieve symptoms and promote healing. It’s steroid-free, which is good to know as some eczema treatments have steroids. Please only use a product with steroids on your newborn if the doctor recommends it.
This rich moisturizer calms irritated skin with colloidal oatmeal and vitamin B5. It not only fixes redness and dryness, but it also prevents the eczema from coming back.
Unlike some eczema ointments, this one isn’t greasy. It’s pH-balanced and free from phthalates, parabens, fragrances, and phenoxyethanol. It’s also accepted by the National Eczema Association.
You can use it for up to 7 days continuously.
Conclusion
Who knew that choosing the best baby lotion for newborns could be such a big decision? Don’t worry, it’s only because you care so much about your child that every detail matters.
We hope that our reviews helped you navigate to the exact baby product you need. If you love your new baby moisturizer, please come back and tell us about your experience with it.
Source:
1. https://www.webmd.com/parenting/treat-diaper-rash-16/baby-skin-care by Colleen de Bellefonds published February 04, 2017, accessed November 27, 2020